California Spangled: California Spangled Cat Personality, Breed History, and Interesting Facts

The California Spangled is a breed of domestic cat that was originally bred to resemble the big spotted cats of the wild, such as the leopard, cheetah, and the ocelot. This unique breed is medium-sized and possesses a lean and muscular body frame. Their spotted hair coat is quite exotic looking, with distinctive spots that can be oval, triangular, or square in shape. This breed is known for its graceful movements, athleticism, and intelligence. 

Characteristics

The California Spangled Cat looks almost like a miniature leopard, with its long, lean, and muscular body and its characteristic low-slung walk that resembles the walk of the bigger felines. These cats are known for their black leopard-like spots, and their hair coat color ranges from silver, white, brown, and bronze to gold and blue. They are a medium-to-large cat, averaging around 8-15 pounds, and have prominent cheekbones and large, lighter-colored whisker pads.

Like most cats, the California Spangled Cat is a dedicated self-groomer and produces little to no dander. This makes them a good choice for owners who may be allergic to cats. This breed is affectionate, curious, and social and loves to be included in whatever is going on in the home. They are known for their intelligence, athleticism, high energy level, and superior acrobatics: They love to pounce on things and have very sharp hunting skills.

Breed History

The California Spangled Cat is a mixed-breed domestic variety and is a cross between the Siamese, Angora, Manx, British Shorthair, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair cats. The breed first emerged in the 1970s, inspired by a conservation effort to preserve the African leopard. A Hollywood scriptwriter and author by the name of Paul Arnold Casey, Jr., had spent some time in Africa working with the noted British anthropologist Louis Leakey. After witnessing the poaching death of a leopard in Tanzania, Dr. Leakey encouraged Paul Arnold Casey Jr. to develop a variety of domestic cats that resembled a spotted leopard to raise awareness about the illegal poaching of wild cats. PaulCasey and Dr. Leakey came up with the idea that if people owned a domestic cat that looked like a mini-leopard, those individuals may develop a greater inclination to conserve wild cats.

Casey had a distinct breeding plan in mind when developing the Spangled Cat, and he did not want to use any wild or exotic breeds in its development. As a result, he refrained from using the more exotic Bengal cat in his breeding program and used existing domestic breeds such as the Siamese, Angora, Manx, British Shorthair, Abyssinian, and American Shorthair cats. As Casey’s breeding program progressed in the 1980s, he introduced street cats from Malay and Egypt to add a more wild look to the breed.

In 1985, Casey felt that he had developed the desired look for the breed, and later would form the California Spangled Cat Association (CSCA). The mission of the CSCA was to work to protect all endangered wild cats as well as to promote the California Spangled breed. 

Interesting Facts

The California Spangled Cat got a great deal of media attention when Casey introduced it on the cover of the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog in 1986. Casey wanted to do this to raise funds to protect endangered cat species in Central and South America and advertised a purchase price for the breed at $1400, or $2500 with a personal, one-week training session with him.

However, this fund-raising campaign backfired and became a public relations nightmare for Casey. Animal rights activists stated that the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog was also selling fur coats, such as fox, beaver, and ermine. When Casey allied himself with animal rights groups and condemned the retailer for selling fur coats, things got worse.

READ MORE: 15 Rarest Cat Breeds

Temperament and Personality

The California Spangled is very affectionate and loving and loves being around people and the center of attention. They love playing with and interacting with family members and enjoy stalking and pouncing games to demonstrate their hunting skills. Since this breed is very social, it may act out if it becomes stressed or lonely and can become withdrawn without enough human interaction.

The California Spangled Cat is full of energy and is very athletic. They are also very intelligent, which means that they can be easily trained to do several things, including walking on a leash. This breed likes heights and loves to seek out high places, so it’s a good idea to invest in some cat trees or towers.

The California Spangled Cat makes for a gentle and loving pet, and are known to form close bonds with their humans. They love cuddling and cozying up on the couch and enjoy spending lots of time with their family members. A naturally friendly breed, the Spangled also enjoys interacting with other cats and family pets, and love showing and receiving affection. 

Although the breed may look “wild,” the California Spangled quickly forms bonds with family members, and other pets, and is perfectly happy to sit on a lap or perch on a shoulder.

Activity

The California Spangled was bred to resemble a wild leopard-like cat and possesses a long, sleek body. These feline friends are very athletic and full of energy, but at the same time, are loving and sociable, making them fantastic cats for any family. Since this breed can be quite active, it is important to make sure that they have plenty of room to play and exercise. 

The Spangled loves to climb and leap, and it’s a great idea to provide cat towers, trees, or areas where the cat can actively climb and explore higher altitudes. Owners can also invest in toys, scratching posts, feline-friendly shelving, and other enrichment devices to keep these felines occupied and entertained. If you have the option of adding a secure catio to your home or apartment, the California Spangle Cat would love the chance to be able to experience the great outdoors in a safe environment.

Care

The California Spangled is generally a healthy breed, and just as with any cat, making sure that it has regular veterinary check-ups is vital. Unlike some purebred cats, there are no breed-specific health problems noted in the California Spangled but contact your veterinarian immediately if you are ever concerned about its health. 

Along with scheduling yearly check-ups with your veterinarian, the breed does require regular nail trims. A groomer or your veterinarian can help with nail trims if needed and give you a tutorial on how to do nail trims at home. Of course, scratching posts are helpful in keeping kitty’s nails short too. 

Although the California Spangled Cat is considered a short-haired breed, occasional brushing and grooming may be needed. However, the Spangle is a very clean machine and regularly grooms itself without worrying about loose hair and dander. Their spotted coat can be brushed once weekly, and this can prevent the formation of hair mats and keep the coat clean, healthy, and shiny. Regular brushing can also help prevent the potential development of hairball issues.

As mentioned above, their coat comes in a range of colors, such as white, brown, black, blue, and gold. And of course, they are known for their distinctive leopard spots. When it comes to environment and temperature, the Spangled is adaptable and can live happily in most climates, however, it’s critical to provide proper shade, shelter, and freshwater when summer temperatures come around.

READ MORE: How Often Should You Take a Cat to the Vet?

Adoption

Since the 1980s, the popularity of the California Spangled has been overshadowed by the Bengal and the Ocicat. As a result, finding a Spangled at a shelter or an adoption facility may be difficult, so you may be better off looking for a specific California Spangled Cat rescue or breeder. Some rescue groups also care for mixed breeds. 

All over the world, breeders are working hard to make the California Spangled more accessible and popular, since there are only roughly 200 such cats in existence today. An interesting side note is that the breed is on its way to attaining Championship Status from The International Cat Association (TICA) and American Cat Association (ACA). The Spangled is among two International Grand Champions in Europe, and in 1994, Spangled won the title of Best in Show at a competition in Paris.

California Spangled Cat Price

The Spangled Cat comes with a moderate to high price, ranging in cost between $800 and $2,500 US dollars. As with any cat, it’s very important to ensure that you obtain a Spangled from a reputable breeder. The California Spangled Cat remains a quite rare breed, and if you are lucky enough to adopt or purchase this domestic copy of a wild cat, you will enjoy hours of fun and companionship.

Conclusions

If you are looking for an exotic, playful, and loving feline friend, then the California Spangled Cat is the pet for you. They make an excellent addition to any home or family.

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